Is Doug Smail #388 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1982 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Doug Smail #388 sells for $38.99 against $2.09 raw: a $36.90 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.09
- PSA 10
- $38.99
- PSA 9
- $31.00
- Gem premium
- 19×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $38.99 | +$11.90 | −$13.10 | −$113 |
| PSA 9 | $31.00 | +$3.91 | −$21.09 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $17.63 | −$9.46 | −$34.46 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $2.09 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $33.00 | −$19.09 |
| 50% | $35.00 | −$17.09 |
| 75% | $36.99 | −$15.10 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $51.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $38.99 | −$12.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $23.00 | −$28.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $23.00 | −$28.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Doug Smail #388 — FAQ
Is Doug Smail #388 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Doug Smail #388 sells for $38.99 against $2.09 raw: a $36.90 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Doug Smail #388 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Doug Smail #388 (Hockey Cards 1982 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $38.99 versus $2.09 for a raw near-mint copy — a 19× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Doug Smail #388?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $51.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $38.99. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Doug Smail #388 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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